Robert Charles Ord

See Agnew Family History in the Historical Section. Robert is on the far left of the front row, with wife Mayme on the right, holding daughter Marjorie.

Photos courtesy of the Joshua Brackett Eagle Scout Project

(March 7, 1869 - June 24, 1932)

The Lusk Herald

June 30, 1932

ROBERT C. ORD SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES RECEIVED WHEN TEAM RUNS AWAY AT RANCH

Well Known Citizen Puts Up Gallant Fight For Life, But Fails to Overcome Terrific Odds

Robert C. Ord, prominent and highly respected rancher, who was so seriously injured in a runaway accident at his Rawhide Buttes ranch last Tuesday, passed away at the Lusk Hospital about 5:00 o'clock last Friday morning, after a heroic battle waged by himself his physician and nurses to save his life.

Mr. Ord, who was more seriously injured than at first supposed, was conscious until a few minutes before his death, and only about ten minutes before the end came he wrote notes to the doctor and nurses, advising with them about his condition.

Every method known to medical science was used to stave off the inevitable, and during the last few hours oxygen and powerful heart stimulants were used, but to no avail.

Shortly before five o'clock his heart began to fail, and the end came within a short time. All members of the family except Mrs. George Darrow, who was on her way from Rochester, N.Y., were with him when the end came.

Funeral services were held Sunday, in charge of the Midwest Mortuary, with interment in the Lusk Cemetery. Rev. Edwin F. Irwin conducted the services at the Congregational Church at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, and the church was filled to overflowing with friends from Lusk, Torrington, Cheyenne and surrounding cities. Music was given by a mixed quartet composed of Alger Johnson, C. C. Browning, Mrs. Robert Taylor and Mrs. Floyd Deuel, accompanied by Miss Alice Fowler at the piano.

At the grave the impressive Masonic services were held, in charge of Frank W. Chambers, master of Harmony Lodge.

The front of the church was filled with a bower of beautiful floral offerings, attesting the esteem in which deceased was held by a wide circle of friends.

OBITUARY
Robert Charles Ord was born in Pawnee City, Nebraska, March 7, 1869. His parents, George Ord and Melissa B. Ord, were pioneer settlers in Nebraska. He was one of nine children.

His early education was in the public schools of Pawnee, after which he attended and later was graduated from Peru State Normal. Several years were then spent in teaching, to enable him to obtain further education.

He was a graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University, and for six years thereafter was professor in that institution. He also took graduate work at Nebraska University.

He met his future wife, Mayme Agnew Ord, while they were attending college. They were married in Chadron, Neb., Aug. 24, 1899. Three years afterward Mr. Ord quit the teaching profession because of ill health, and became a rancher in Wyoming, where he has lived for the past thirty years.

He was a charter member of Harmony Lodge No. 24, A.F.& A.M., of Lusk, and was its first treasurer. Later he took the 32nd degree in Cheyenne.

From boyhood Mr. Ord had been closely affiliated with the church and its work. He was an earnest member of the early Congregational Church in Lusk and has always been in sincere sympathy with its enterprises.

There remain to deeply mourn his untimely departure, his wife, Mayme Agnew Ord; four children - Marjorie Ord Darrow of Rochester, N.Y., who arrived only a few hours after her father passed away; Gertrude Ord, Jeanette Ord Sager and John Robert Ord of Lusk; two grandchildren, George Francis Darrow and Harry Charles Sager; also four sisters - Mrs. Anna March of Escondido, Calif.; Mrs. Carrie Raitt of Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. Rella Haas of Wichita, Kans., and Miss Lana Ord of Lusk, and other relatives and a host of warm friends.

* * *

Dr. Walter E. Reckling, who attended Mr. Ord, and who performed a delicate operation on the road while bringing him from his ranch to the hospital here, in an effort to save his life, was so touched by the gameness with which Mr. Ord stood the ordeal, that he wrote the following fine tribute, which is worthy of publication:

I never knew Mr. Ord in health. Our first acquaintance came as patient and physician. There are no acquaintances quite so intimate as these.

It is easy to be assuming, carry an air of bravado and conceit, when life's processes are functioning in their full and perfect flower. Yet, to know people, one must wait. There comes that time when life's shadows grow long and light is soon in it passing. One must wait for the final flicker of light and then darkness. It is then that man's true self is determined.

Fortunately, nature is kind. The deterioration from time and disease has dulled the senses of perception. One goes but not fully conscious to the condition about him. Nature would prone obey her mysteric cycle, but sometimes things are too sudden and abrupt. From the helpless infant, wholly dependent upon others, we grow. From a poor knowledge of our circumstances and surroundings we pass to that full realization of all of our possibilities. It is very fortunate that nature does prepare us for death, and that we go not realizing the pain, the air hunger, the final gasping for that something which might sustain that feeble spark just a little longer.

With Mr. Ord it was different. From a position of healthy and enjoyment of life he was seized. The suddenness of it did not permit nature to make preparations. I believe that the suddenness of it did not allow Mr. Ord time to think of death as his ultimate possibility. If he did think of it, he did not care to express himself to that end.

We tried in our humble way to stay that final moment and return him to his family for more years of usefulness. Our efforts seemed to bear some success, but the life processes of a man of Mr. Ord's age were not strong enough to withstand the terrific strain of his injuries. He never complained, never angered, never offered a word of criticism, never gave for a moment to self pity.

He fought one of the gamest fights for life any man every fought, and the fighting was clean. To me, it was a vivid review of the life he lived. Such courage. What a noble heritage a man like that must leave to those nearest to him. Its reflection was pronounced. His family met that moment of his passing without the emotional hysteria to which so many of us give away. That remarkable courage was passing on.

My few feeble words are written in appreciation of Mr. Ord's acquaintance, unfortunate as were the circumstances leading to it. I shall always remember him as a man of remarkable courage, a courage that cannot be expelled. It is acquaintances like these that renew my faith in my fellow man, establishing anew the belief in a greater power than the human mind. Some may call It Nature while others call It God.

Walter E. Reckling

IN APPRECIATION
You, dear friends, who by word or deed, expressed your sympathy in our great sorrow, we thank you. And to those who gave their services in such large measure, we offer our eternal gratitude.